Loading and packaging device



Dec. 7,1948. M. MATSEN EI'AL 2,455,433

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A T TOME) Patented Dec. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOADING AND PACKAGING DEVICE Morris Matsen, Wilmington, Del., and Earl R. Jones, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,342

7 Claims. (Cl. 249-65) This invention relates to loading and packaging devices, and especially to devices for depositing elongated objects in an ordered arrangement in predetermined amount for packaging.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a continuously operating device for depositing a collection of objects in ordered arrangement. Another object is to provide for uniformly collecting together predetermined amounts of such objects in ordered arrangement.

from the following description and from the drawings constituting a part hereof in which Fig. l is a view of the device partially in side elevation'with parts broken away and partially diagrammatic,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the loading table with parts broken away showing driving devices therefor and a modified manner of vmounting the pilot switch operator and cam drive.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the cam operated main switch showing a portion of its enclosing casing cut away,

Fig. 4 is a partial bottom view of the commutator, v

Fig. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the turn table and commutator, the section through the commutator being taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4, also showing diagrammatically the electrical circuits and the means for operating the pilot circuit,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the bag holder and load arm,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the bag holder and load arm showing a partial cross sectional view of the turn table, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the receivers for orienting the materials.

Referring to Fig. 1, the device comprises in general the orienting receiver which is generally designated by A, a loading table and a temporary depository which is generally designated by C. The receiver A which is normally closed, operates to receive the objects to be deposited, orient them in the position to be deposited and then open to discharge the objects in response to the advance of a succeeding advancing object. The discharging of the object is effected a period of time before the succeeding object advances for allowing the receiver to return to its normally closed position. The loading table 20, which is stationary during the loading thereof, receives the oriented objects which pass thereto from receiver A by gravity. The loading table l() Other objects of the invention will be apparent remains stationary until it has collected a predetermined weight of the objects and then is turned by weight controlled means until a new loading station is in position to receive the objects. Interposed between the receiver A and the loading table 20 is the temporary depository generally designated by C, which is normally open when the loading table is stationary so that the oriented objects willpass therethrough without interruption, but when the loading table is being turned to a new loading station the temporary depository is closed and retains the oriented objects as they are discharged from the receiver A. When a new loading station is reached, the temporary depository C is opened and returned to its normal position thereby discharging its deposit of oriented objects onto the loading table.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a cutting device comprising driven cutter wheels I carrying the knives B. The cutting device is adapted to cut ofi predetermined lengths of a continuously advancing thread, rope or ribbon 2 of material such as plastic material or rubber, thereby providing the receiver with a supply of elongated objects or lengths of material to be deposited or packaged. For this purpose, a receiver cam 3 is attached to the shaft of the upper driven cutter wheel i and is shaped to pass through one complete cycle with each cutting operation so that whenever material is fed to the cutter each cycle of the cam represents the delivery of one elongated object to the receiver. One end of a bell crank 4 which is pivoted on the pin 5 acts as a slider on the cam, and the slider is held on the fixed cam by the coil spring 6 which is biased against the other end of the crank. At the end of the bell crank 4 is a pivot or eye member 1 through which the thrust memher 8 is passed. The two arms 8 of the thrust member are journaled at their ends on pins 9 which are secured to the outer ends of the cranks In. The cranks l0 are secured to the outer ends of shafts II which are mounted at both ends to turn in the bearings 12 which are integral with the casing l3 as shown in Fig. 8. The bearings are mounted on a fixed support such as the walls of the casing 13. On the shafts ii are mounted the leaves 18 of the receiver which are extended to contact at their inner edges and form a V- shaped bottom for the receiver when they are in normal closed position. The operating cam 3 is set so that when an elongated object is delivered to the receiver, the leaves I8 of the receiver are closed so that the elongated object will come to rest with its longitudinal axis parallel with the line oi contact oi the V-shaped bottom oi the receiver, thus locating the object in the desired fixed position for delivery to the loading table.

During the approach of a second elongated object, the indexing means, such as the driven cutter which operates the earn 3, causes the cam 3 to turn through one operating cycle during the passage of the object, thereby operating bell crani: 4, raising thrust rods d and opening the bottom of the receiver for discharging the object onto the receiving table B. The cam ii is so proportioned that the bell crank t, thrust rods 3 and bottom members it will be returned to normal or closed position before a succeeding object has been advanced to a point where it may be discharged into the receiver.

The elongated objects delivered to the receiver A are thus successively discharged in a fixed horizontal position and are received by the loading table at. The loading table 28 preferably comprises a horizontal circular platform which is supported at its center to turn on ball bearings M which are mounted in the pedestal ii. A turret shaft 22 is provided for revolving the table into loading positions and retaining the table in such position until the predetermined load of delivered objects is collected. The upper end of shaft 22 is fixed to the table and the lower end carries a circular plate it upon which a number of cam rollers or followers 63 are mounted for engaging the groove in the cam. Mil. At its lower end, the shaft 22 turns in the bearing ill which is attached to the pedestal 2i above the plate i5. There are as many rollers it on the plate id as there are loading stations on the table til.

Rectangular openings 23 near the outer circumierential margin of the table 26 are provided at predetermined loading stations. The loading table is normally at rest with a loading station or opening 23 located directly under the receiver A so that the oriented elongated objects will tall therethrough by gravity as they are successively discharged by the receiver A. Bags or packaging containers 24 are suspended directly under the openings 23 on hooks 26 or other releasable at= taching means to secure the bags in place during loading and permit the removal of a bag when it is loaded and moved out of loading position.

As shown in Figs. 6 and '7, a desirable bag retainer may comprise a band enclosing a rectangular opening sumcient to provide a free opening into the bag at least as large as the opening 23 in the turn table. The band 25 is providedwith any convenient means for attaching the bag or packaging container to the band 25, such as hooks 26.

The bag retainer is suspended on pins or trunnions 30 on opposite sides of the rectangular scale arm 3|. The scale arm 3| is shaped to permit a free space below the opening 23 and is pivoted at its outer end on a pin 32 which is passed through brackets 33 on the under side of the table 20. At its inner end, the scale arm 3| has a triangular extension 35 having an opening 36 through which the bolt 31 freely passes' permitting free vertical movement of the scale arm. The bolt 31 carries a load control spring 39 which engages the under side of the scale arm 3|. The spring 39 is retained on the bolt 31 within a cup 40 which is retained on the bolt 31 by the nut 4|; By screwing the nut 4| inwardly, the spring is adjustably biased against the scale arm for retaining the arm 3| in loading position until the bag is loaded with a desired weight of oblectsto be packaged, whereupon the scale arm is depressed against the spring 39. At the inner end of the triangular extension 35 of the scale arm 3| is a contact member 42 which contacts with and depresses the plunger 43 for closing the plunger operated switch #4, such as a microswitch, when the bag 24 is fully loaded and the scale arm 3i is fully depressed.

The switch 44 is mounted on a ring shaped part H53 composed of insulating material which is mounted underneath the turn table 23 on brackets and 56 as shown in Figs. 1, i and 5 which are connected to opposite terminals of switch t4 throughrleads 54 and 55. There are as many assemblies of contacts 53 and 56, switch 44 and connections 54 and 55 as there are loading stations or openings in the turn table 23. Brushes 52 and 51 are mounted on insulation 5211 on the stationary bracket H52 which is attached to the pedestal housing 2 [l The bracket W2 is desirably a circular plate having an outer marginal upturned flange which serves as a support at or near the outer edge of the commutator plate l59 and in sliding engagement therewith. This upturned edge or rim also acts to avoid the accumulation of dust and dirt in and around the contacts. The brushes 52 and 51 are located so that the opening 23 in the turn table 20 will be directly under hoppers A and C, and in loading position when contacts 53 and 56 are in contact with the brushes 52 and M. The brushes 52 and Eli are suitably insulated from the bracket member l52. Brush 52 is directly connected to line 50 through lead 5! and brush 51 is connected to one side of the rectifier R1 through lead 54a.

When the switch 44 is closed by loading the bag and depressing scale arm 3|, plunger contact member 42- and plunger 43, a circuit from the main line 59 is established through lead 5|, brush 52, lead 54, switch 44, lead 55, contact member 56, brush 51 and lead 54a, to the rectifier R1, lead 63, coil 62, lead 6| and from the opposite terminal of rectifier R1 to the other side 60 of the main supply line through lead 59. This operation is the first step in controlling the closing of the biparted bottom of the temporary deposi tory C for receiving the objects aligned and discharged by the receiver A while the loading table is being turned to the next succeeding loading station. The rectifier R1 thus being energized and the circuit through line 6|, to solenoid 62 and lead 63 being completed, the solenoid-controlled retractable switch S thereupon closes across contact points 65 and 66. This action closes the circuit from power line 50 through leads 98, contacts 65 and 66, solenoid R, leads 1|, 12 and resistor 13 to the other side 60 of the power line.

Energization of solenoid R operates the retractible switch T to close the circuit from main line 50 through lead 98, contacts 15 and 16, lead 13, solenoid 19. lead 80, contacts 8| and 82, and leads 83 and 84 to the outside of resistor 13 and to the opposite side 60 of the power line. The consequent energizing of solenoid 19 draws the armature 85 of solenoid 19 inwardly, thereby retracting tension rods 86 and levers 81' which turn the shafts 81a. The leaves 88 which form the biparted V-shaped bottom of the temporary depository C are attached to the shafts 81a and the operation closes t e leaves to form the V-shaped bottom for retaining the objects diivered by the receiver A during the operation of 5 turning the loading table to the next succeeding loading station. The shafts 81a are mounted in the bearings "which are similar to the mountins: of the shafts II.

As solenoid switch '1 closes the circuit across contact point 15-46 and 8I82, it also closes the contact points 90-41 and 02-83 in the circuit of the clutch solenoid 34 which, upon being energized by current from the rectifier R2, which is connected to the main line through leads 84 and 98, causes the clutch plates 85 and 36 to move into frictional engagement. The clutch plate 96 is constantly driven by the motor 91 which receives its power from the mam power supply line through leads 04 and B.

The revolving clutch plate 96 being engaged with plate 35 turns t e table 20 through the turret shaft 22 which is provided at its lower end with a plate I upon which are mounted the followers 15. The followers I5 are equal in number to the stations 23 of the table 20 and they are spaced on the plate I5 so that a follower will always be engaged by the groove of cam H2. The cam H2 is operated through the train consisting of s aft H3, meshing gears H4 and H5 and shaft II6 which is attached to the driven clutch plate 95.

Cam switch 69 is operated by the cam I20 which is mounted on shaft H9. This shaft rotates integrally with the cam H2 which is driven by the clutch plate 05 through gears H4 and H5. Cam

I20 is disposed so that cam switch 69 is normally open when the turn table is at rest and is disposed at a loading station under the hopper A. The open position of the cam switch and the disposition of the cam I20 for open position of the cam switch 69 indicates a loading station for a bag 24. Accordingly the groove of the turret cam H2 is given a pitch so that one complete revolution of turrent cam H2 and the direct connected cam I20 will turn the turret shaft 22 and turn table 20 through exactly one loading station, the pitch of cam II2 depending upon the number of loading stations on the table 20. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cam switch 69 and cam I20 are mounted on the base 2Ia of the pedestal 2| and are enclosed by a cover plate 2I'b.

When the turn table 20 is at rest and at a loading station, all circuits connected to the power lines 50 and 50 are open, except the connection to the constantly running motor 91 and to the rectifier Re. In this position the solenoids 62, R, 19 and 94 are de-energized, the leaves 88 of retainer C are in open position, the clutch plates 95 and 96 are disengaged and switches S and T are retained open 'by retractors, such as springs which hold the switches open except when the solenoids 62 and R are energized.

When the predetermined load is delivered to the turn table, the loaded arm 3I is depressed against the spring 39, thereby closing the switch 44. The pilot circuit through lead 54a is thereby established to the rectifier R1, switches S and T are closed 'to energize solenoids I5 and 94, and cam switch 69 is open. Operating cam I20 is so shaped that the cam switch will displace the rider I 2I to close cam switch 69 as soon as the turn table has been turned through a small angle, say 1 or 2 succeeding loading station and the next succeeding pair of contacts 53 and 55 are in contact with the brushes 52 and 51, whereupon the cam I20 releases without any delay the spring biased rider and switch operator I2I of cam switch 69 thereby breaking the circuit then established to rectifier R1 from power line 50 through leads 98, I0, switch 69, lead 68, R1, lead I2 and resistance I3 to power line 60. The pilot circuit through switch 44 and lead 54a being open, solenoid 62 is de-energized and the spring switch S is permitted to return to open position thereby deenergizing solenoid R and permitting the sprin controlled switch T to open. This results in deenergizing solenoids I9 and 94, the disengagement of clutch plates 95 and 95, and the opening of leaves 88 of the hopper C.

At the start of the movement of the turn table which moves into a new loading position and after switch 44 is closed by the load arm 3i, the power is delivered to the rectifier R1 through lead 5i, brush 52, commutator contact 53 and lead 54, switch 44, lead 55, contact 56, brush 5! and lead 54a, and the return connection from the other side of R1 is through lead 59 to line 50. This pilot circuit is retained only temporarily or until the cam I20 has closed cam switch 69 and the circuit through brushes 52 and 51 is opened by movement of the turn table which carries contact members 53 and 56 out of their contact position with 52 and 51. Accordingly the commutator I50 is a ring of insulatmg material mounted on brackets I5I on the under side of table 20 and the commutator contact members 53 and 55 are bolts, the enlarged heads of which set flush into the lower surface of the ring of insulating material I50. The contact members 53 and 55 are only large enough to remain in contact with the brushes 52 and 51 while the turn table 20 is at rest at a loading station and thereafter until cam I20 has closed switch 69 and the turn table 20 is being turned a few degrees after it has started to turn into a new loading position. Thereafter the succeeding set of commutator contact members 53 and 5B is located so that full contact will be established with the brushes 52 and 57 after the loaded beam 3| and bag 24 have'moved out of engagement with the switch plunger 43, so that when the next succeeding loading station is in position the pilot circuit will be open through switch 44 during the last few degrees of travel of the table by reason of the unloaded position of the beam 3| and switch plunger. When the table 20 reaches the next succeeding loading station and the cam switch is suddenly released to open position by the cam I20, both the pilot circuit through the switch 44 and the main circuit through cam switch 69 to rectifier R1 will be opened. As a consequence thereof, the circuits supplying power to solenoids l9 and 94 will be opened, the table will come to rest at the new loading station and the leaves 88 of the hopper C will discharge their accumulated load to bag 24. Thus the system will be restored to normal loading operation.

Thus during the time that the table 20 is being turned from one loading station to the next succeeding loading station and cam switch 69 is being retained in closed position by the cam I20, the power to energize the solenoid 'I9 for hopper C, rectifier R1 and solenoid R is supplied by leads 98 from one side 50 of the power line and the return circuit is from the other side of solenoid I9 through leads and 84 to 60, from the other side of R1 through lead 12 and resistance 13 to 60 and from solenoid R through lead 72 and. resistance l3 to 60. While these circuits are established, the solenoid operated switch T maintains the circuit of rectifier R2 closed for energizing the clutch solenoid 94, thereby engaging the clutch plates 95 and 96 and establishing the described mechanical connection from constantly r motor or to the spindle 22 for turning the table toward the new loading position.

The present invention provides a device which satisfactorily loads objects into containers, such as bags and boxes in regular arrangement and in predetermined weight. The device operates to complete the routine acts involved in the packag ing or loading operation. without the necessity of personal attention except to remove the loaded receptacles and place unloaded receptacles in place. Various features. of the device shown. in the drawings and specifically described may be varied to suit the use, such as the form of load control arm and the accommodation for re taining the receptacle in loading position, the mechanism for opening and closing t e hopper A and various details of the device.

It will be recognized from the foregoing description that still other modifications can he made without departing from the invention, and it is to be understood that the present invention is not resticted to the specific illustration thereof which is set forth herein.

We claim:

1. A loading device which comprises a receiver for receiving elongated objects delivered thereto; said receiver having means for individually ar-= ranging the objects in predetermined alignment as they are delivered thereto; means for discharging each aligned object after it is aligned for loading it into a packaging receptacle; 9. carrier for sup porting a plurality of packaging receptacles; means on the carrier for positioning a receptacle under the receiver in loading position, retaining it in loading position until a predetermined load is packaged therein and then moving another receptacle into loading position; said means comprising an electrical circuit connected to a source of power and a load actuated pilot switch in the circuit, said switch being actuated to close when a predetermined load is delivered to the receptacle, a motor for moving the carrier and receptacles into and out of the loading position when said switch means is actuated, means operated when said switch means is actuated for establishing an operative connection between the motor and carrier, and means operated by said motor for discontinuing said operative connection when an unloaded receptacle is brought into the loading position; collecting means between said receiver and said receptacle for retaining the aligned objects discharged from said receiver while an unloaded receptacle is being brought into loading position, and means controlled by said positioning means for maintaining said collecting means in connected to the source of power; said motor having a clutch; a connection for operatively connecting the motor and carrier, thereby to move the carrier from one loading position to the next; an intermediate collecting means adapted to close and retain objects delivered when a receptacle is out cl leading position; control means actuated by the closing of said pilot switch for retaining said clutch and the intermediate collecting means in closed position during said movement of the carrier; a control switch in a circuit connecting a.

source of power and said control means; means driven by said motor for retaining said control switch in closed position while a receptacle is being moved into loading position and for opening the switch when a'lcacllng position is reached, thereby permitting said clutch and intermediate collecting means to open.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 in which the means on the carrier comprises a load arm attached to the carrier which actuates the pilot switch into closed position for closing a circuit from a power source when a package is loaded, the motor is constantly running, and the means for operatively connecting the motor and the carrier for moving the carrier from one loading position to the next comprises a magnetic switch; and the means on the carrier for positioning a receptacle under a receiver comprises a rotatable spindle upon which the carrier is mounted, and means connecting the spindle and motor for causing the spindle to revolve for moving a receptacle into loading position.

4. In a device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the carrier is a circular disc mounted to turn on a central upright spindle and the means for establishing an operative connection between the motor and carrier comprises a magnetic clutch and a switch cam driven by said motor, said disc having openings through which aligned objects are passed into the packaging receptacle, :1 driving cam for operating said upright spindle, means for driving the cam when the clutch is closed, a main switch, said switch cam being operatively connected with said driving cam and being shaped to close the power circuit through the main switch after a loaded receptacle has started to move out of loading position and to open said power circuit when the carrier has moved to the next succeeding loading position said operative connection comprising; a commutator on said carrier having pairs of contacts corresponding to each loading position; connections between said contacts and the opposite terminals of the pilot switch; a, pair of stationary brushes mounted for contacting said contacts when a receptacle is in loading position, said brushes being connected to the opposite terminals of a power source; said pairs of contacts and brushes being formed to retain contact with each other after the carrier has started to move into a new loading position but to open the power circuit through the pilot switch before the carrier is moved into an unloaded position.

5. A loading device which comprises a receiver having a bottom portion shaped for orienting elongated objects which are delivered thereto; an indexing means for closing the bottom of said receiver before an object is delivered thereto and for opening said bottom for discharging the object after it is oriented; means for supporting a. plurality of receptacles in succession underneath said receiver at a predetermined loading station; a

pilot circuit. a normally open pilot switch in said circuit; a pi ot circuit closing device on said supporting means operative for closing said normally open pilot switch when a receptacle is loaded with a predetermined weight; means comprising a cam for moving a loaded receptacle from a loading position and for bringing another receptacle into a. loading position; a motor; a solenoid operated clutch between said motor and cam; a normally open circuit comprising a rectifier connected to said solenoid; means actuated by said pilot circuit for closing the circuit to said solenoid for mechanically operating said cam from said motor.

6. A loading device which comprises a receiver having a bottom portion shaped for orienting elongated objects which are delivered thereto; an indexing means for closing the bottom of said receiver before an object is delivered thereto and for opening said bottom ior discharging the object after it is oriented; means for supporting a plurality of receptacles in succession underneath said receiver at a. predetermined loading station; a pilot circuit; a circuit closing device on said supporting means operative for closing said pilot circuit when a receptacle is loaded with a predetermined weight; a movable contact member in said pilot circuit associated with said receptacle support; a, fixed contact member in said pilot circuit normally contacting with said movable contact when the receptacle is unloaded and is in unloaded position; means comprising a cam for moving a loaded receptacle from a loading position and for bringing another receptacle into loading position; a motor; a solenoid operated clutch between said motor and cam; a normally open circuit comprising a rectifier connected to said solenoid; means actuated by said pilot circuit for closing the circuit to said solenoid for mechanically operating said cam from said motor; a normally open main switch adapted to connect the said rectifier with the power circuit: means for closing said main switch after the loaded receptacle starts to move from loading position and for permitting it to open when an unloaded receptacle is moved into loading position; the contact of said movable and fixed contacts in the pilot circuit being broken after the main switch is closed.

7. A loading device which comprises a pedestal; a rotatable table supported by said pedestal having openings therein; a motor and means for operatively connecting the motor and table; means for suspending a packaging receptacle beneath each or said openings in the table comprising scale arms to which said receptacles are attached, said scale arms being carried by said table and being mounted to rotate therewith; a pilot circuit connected to a source of power; a normally open pilot switch in said circuit; means on said scale arms for operating the pilot switch when a scale arm and its attached receptacle are in loading position and the receptacle is loaded; a pair oi movable contact members which are carried by said table and are-normally in said pilot circuit when a receptacle is in loading position; a pair of fixed contact members carried by said pedestal normally in said pilot circuit when a receptacle is in loading position; a normally open motor circuit connecting the motor and a source of power; means for temporarily interrupting the delivery of objects to packaging receptacles when an unloaded receptacle is being brought into loading position; electro-magnetic means for operating said temporary interrupting means; a circuit for connecting said electromagnetically operated means to a source of power; and means activated when the pilot switch is closed for closing t e motor circuit and the circuit to said electro-magneticaliy operated means; and

means for opening said circuits when a. receptacle is brought into loading position.

MORRIS MATSEN. EARL R. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 633,253 Watson Sept. 19, 1899 906,214 Freeman Dec. 8, 1908 1,278,097 Blake Sept. 10, 1918 1,615,485 Rees Jan. 25, 1927 1,899,446 Smith et al. Feb. 28, 1933 2,031,708 Hannewald ct a1. Feb. 25, 1936 2,115,620 Cave Apr. 26, 1938 2,151,107 Howard Mar. 21, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 143,252 Austria Oct. 25, 1935 489,264 Germany Dec. 10, 1927 

